Ex-Files: Jon Macken

<font face="Calibri" size="3">Born in Blackley, the former Manchester United trainee moved to Preston in 1997 after failing to make an impression at Old Trafford. Hoping for first team football, Macken had moved to Deepdale on the back of earning himself a sterling reputation as being a prolific goal scorer for United's second string and so filled the North End faithful with confidence.</font>

<font face="Calibri" size="3">Macken made his debut for Preston in a 0-0 draw against Gillingham on the 9^th August 1997. Although he didn't score on his debut, it wasn't long until he scored his first Preston goal. Just 3 days after making his debut, Macken bagged the first of Preston's 3 goals in a 3-1 in over Rotherham in the League Cup. However, despite getting off to a good start goal scoring wise, Macken only managed to find the net 8 times that season. Much was the same the following year, this time beating his tally by one goal. </font></p>

<font face="Calibri" size="3">The following year though seemed to find his goal scoring touch and, bagged an impressive 25 goals in all competitions, including goals against Arsenal in the league cup at Highbury and against bitter rivals Burnley. As a result, Macken had established himself as a fan favourite and a key player for Preston. His goal tally was enough to fire Preston into English football's second tier as they went up as Division two champions in 2000. </font></p>

<font face="Calibri" size="3">Moving up a league didn't seem to faze Macken one bit as he managed to carry on where he left off the previous season by scoring 22 goals in his first season at Division One level. This of course as the season where Preston were very close to gaining promotion for the second time in as many seasons, this time though falling short at the final hurdle thanks to a play-off final defeat to Bolton at Cardiff's Millennium stadium.</font></p>

<font face="Calibri" size="3">The next season proved to be his last for Preston after what appeared to be a strange series of events. Macken had got wind of larger clubs being interested in his services and so handed in a transfer request and was therefore reluctantly placed on the transfer list accordingly. After just a few weeks, Macken then removed himself from said list which was announced at Deepdale before the start of a match. North End fans figured that the striker had had a change of heart and wanted to stay after all and greeted the announcement with a rapturous applause. </font></p>

<font face="Calibri" size="3">Sadly, for Preston fans this was not so as he then moved to Manchester City for a staggering &pound;5,000,000, the club he scored that goal against from the halfway line early in the season.</font></p>

<font face="Calibri" size="3">One of his first jobs as a City player in the new season was to face his old club Preston in a pre season friendly. Macken was greeted with boos and jeers as many Preston fans had not forgiven him for turning his back on them. In the three years Macken was at city, he only managed to conjure up 27 starts and was transferred to Crystal Palace in the summer of 2005.</font></p>

<font face="Calibri" size="3">With internationals such as Andy Johnson and Clinton Morrison for England and Ireland respectively, it meant that there was stiff competition at Selhurst Park. Limiting his number of appearances seemed to spark Macken becoming somewhat of a journey man as after failing to hold down a regular place at Palace, Macken moved on loan to Ipswich Town in 2006. </font></p>

<font face="Calibri" size="3">Whilst at Portman Road, Macken went on to make 16 appearances and scored 3 goals before signing for promotion chasing Derby County on loan for the remainder of the 2006/2007 season. Whilst at Pride Park, Macken made just 11 appearances never found the net once. He then moved to Barnsley, initially on loan, to add some firepower to their forward line in their bid to avoid the drop. </font></p>

<font face="Calibri" size="3">Scoring 8 goals in 33 appearances for the Tykes, Macken seems to have finally shaken off his injury problems and will be hoping for a more successful goal tally this coming season.</font></p>

<font face="Calibri" size="3">Now that Macken has made his move to Barnsley a permanent one, the former Manchester United trainee will be hoping he can hold down a regular place for the FA Cup Semi-Finalists and get back to his prolific goal scoring ways.</font></p>

 

Still sounds good "FA Cup Semi Finalists". Hope he and Hume can work a good partnership